Last.



' UNITED STATES. rnfrnnr4 orricn.

EDWARD Y. AUSTIN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.`

Specification ol? Letters Patent.

'Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

Application filed February 19, 1909. Serial No. 478837.

ot' Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-1n Lasts, of which the following is-a specification.-

This invention relates to lasts which are divided transversely intoa heel-part and a fore-part, said 'partsbeing pivotally connected so that one is adapted to swing relatively to the other to shorten the-last, the

Vparts being provided with reciprocalbearing surfaces arranged to abut. against each other when the last is in, its extended adjustment.

The invention has for its object'to provide an'improved construction of a last of this character, both as regards the hinge connection between the heel and fore-parts,

and also as regards means for locking .the two sections in their extended adjustment.

The invention consists `in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

v Ofthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciticatiomMFignre 1 represents a side View of a last embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top View of the same. F ig. 3 represents a perspective view of the hinge plate; and Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of. the locking member shown in Figs. l and 9..

rlhe same reference characters indicate the same parts inall the figures.

fIn the drawings, -1:2 represents the heelpart and 13 the fore-part of a transversely divided last. The heel-part has a substantially vertical bearing face 14, which forms the front end, and preferably extends from the bottom to the 'crown or top ofthe last. The heel-part is provided with a slot 15 which is formed in the bearing face 14, and extends backwardly therefrom' a suitable -distancel The forepart 13is provided with a hinge plate or member 16 which is a metal plate inserted in a slot or sawkerf formed for its recept-ion in the rear end of theforepart, the hinge plate being secured to the fore-partby suitable means, such as rivets 1S. The plate .16 has an ear 19, which enters thev slot. 15 .in the heel-part and receives a t pivot pin 2O whichl constitutes a hinge connection between the parts 12 and -13. 'lfhe inner end of the fore-part has a bearing face-21 which is formed to abut against the bearing face ll below the axial line of the pivot 2U, the inner end of the fore-part being cut away at :22 to form a space above the reciprocal bearing surfaces ofthe heel and fore-parts to permit either part to swing upon the pivot 20 for the purpose of shortening` the last, the hinge-plate 1G being adapted to swing intorthe slot 15 when the parts are adjusted to slierten the last.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 thatI aspace is formed between the upper portions of the heel and foreparts when the last is extended, the hinge part 1G occupying the central portion of said space. I utilize the space thus formed for 'the reception of a locking member which is adapted to engage the parts of the last within said space and lock the last in itsl extended adjustment. The said locking member is preferably a metaltongue Q3 having a resilient shank 24 which is attached to one side of the heel-part 12. the locking tongue. or member 23 projecting across the upper portion of the end face 1a of the heel-part, and engaging a face or shoulder 25 formed on the hinOe )late-1G. the locking member normallv .a pro]ect1ng across the hinge plate. as nidicated 1n Fig. 'XVhen 1t is desired to .shorten the last. the locking member i223 is withdrawn from engagement with the hinge plate so that the last parts are free to swing relatively to each other in'a direction re-` quired to shorten .the last. The resilience of the shank 21 is sufficient to normally hold the locking member 23 in its operative position. rl`he locking member is preferably provided with a slot 2G which receives a confining screw QT. the length of the slot being such that while the locking member can move sutliciently to be disengaged from the hinge plate, its displacement will be suitably i limited.

It will be seen that the described last isy extremely simple and durable in. construction, and is adapted to be firmly held in lts extended adjustment.. A

vI claim:

A last comprising a heel-part ,having a bearing face at its front end, and a slot formed therein, a forepart ,having a hinge plate projecting rearwardly from its inner end and pivoted to the heel-part within said slot, the inner end of the fore-'part being adaptedl to lautor-natically lockv the-lest in its' formed to Vabut against the bearing face of i extended adjstment.' the heel-part below rthe'pivot, and c'ut away In testimony Wh'ereof I have afixedv my above the pivot to form a space which persignaturein presence of two witnesses. mitsl a shortening adjustment of the parts,- EDWARD Y. AUSTIN. `and a locking member projecting across the. Witnesses:

end face of the heelartand engaging the- EVERETT H. 'Dm-Imm partsvvof the last within said space `and WALTER DUNBAR. 

